Center adjustable grille



J. F. FARMER CENTER ADJUSTABLE GRILLE Nov. 18, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1940 B w d WP: W 6 m Y M f M Na M v J N M y a l 5 K. n N

z f Q Nov, 18, 1941- J. F. FARMER CENTER ADJUSTABLE GRILLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1940 JW/E/VTOP JOHN f. 53959, 3 4

.47 70 ENE rs Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTER ADJUSTABLE GRILLE.

John F. Farmer, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319.601

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable screen door or window grille which may be adjusted to different widths of openings. A primary object of the invention is to provide a grille of the adjustable type to have a very simple and yet a structurally strong construction wherein there is a floating central grille portion that may be centered relative to extensible end portions. A further primary object of the invention is to provide an extensible grille structure wherein the major portion thereof is rigidly formedto have constant size openings therethrough whereby pivot and hinge connections are avoided.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a structure embodying the invention with the grille in an extended position;

Fig. 2, an end elevation;

Fig. 3, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a front elevation of the upper portion of a structure showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. .6, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line Ii-6 in Fig.

Fig. '7, a side elevation of a further modified form;

Fig. 8, an end elevation of that modified form;

Fig. 9, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line 9-9 in Fig. '7

Fig. 10, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line Ill-I 0 in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11, a detail in section on an enlarged scale on the line I I-I I in Fig. '7.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring first to that form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1-6, I form a central major grille section comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart tubes I5, herein shown as four in number, the number, of course, varying with the I6 at both terminal ends of the respective tubes I5.

The upper and lower ends of the bar I6 are uniformly formed to have a T-head H, as best shown in Fig. 4, creating slots or notches across the bar I6 in each case, one slot on each side thereof. ment both transversely and longitudinally of all of the bars I6.

An end grille section is formed to have a verticaljend rail I8 from which extend horizontally a plurality of rods I9 spaced apart one from the other to align axially with the tubes I5, there being one rod I9 for each tube I5. The rod I9 is formed to fit with a sliding fit into the tube I5 in each instance. From the top and bottom ends of the end rail I8 extend horizontally in parallel alignment with the rod I9 the top and bottom rail sections 29 and 2| respectively. These rail edges of the rails, these edges forming the mar-.

gins of the slots.

Another end grille section is formed to consist of the vertical end rail .22 from which extend rods 23 in spaced apart relation to enter in telescoping manner within the respective tubes I5. Top and bottom rail sections 24 and 25 extend horizontally from the upper and lower ends respectively of the end rail 22 and are hollow and are telescoped over the ends of the rails 20 and 2| respectively. The heads ll of the bars I6 are received within the rails 24 and 25, these rails being slotted throughout their opposing faces to have the edge portions forming the slots endesired spacing and the height of the grille made.

gaging within the notches in the bars I6 that define the heads I'l.

These notches in the bars I6 are sufficientlyhigh as to permit the two thicknesses of metal forming the telescoping rails to travel freely,

through those notches in the telescoping zones. The respective rods I9 and 23 are secured in fixed manner by their outer ends to the respective end rails I8 and 22 and the top and bottom rail sections extending from those end rails are preferably fixed thereto without any hinging action.

With this structure, it is possible to shift the end grille sections out to some such positions as indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 1 and to push them in to the fully retracted positions as indicated by the dash lines where the end rails I8 These notches are in horizontal align-' and 22 would be substantially against the outermost bars I6. It is obvious that the central grille section carrying the vertical bars I6 may be shifted along the rods I9 and 23 in either direction when either or both rails I8 and 22 are extended from the end bars I B. In order that this central grille section may be centered between the end rails, a number of devices may be employed for that purpose, a simple one being that of a latch member 26 mounted on an end bar I6 by any suitable means such as by a rivet or a screw 21 through a slot in the latch member 26 whereby the latch member may be shifted upwardly to engage selectively in anyone of a plu': rality of serrations or notches 28 in one of the rods, a rod 23' in the present example position carrying the slide 35 toward the upper end of the slot 34. Conversely, when the rails I8' and 22 are pushed inwardly to the dash line positions, Fig. '7, the connecting bars 36 and 31 cause the slide 35 to travel downwardly to bring the connecting bars 36 and 31 into a V-like formation. Throughout this range of travel, since the bars 36 and 3! are of equal lengths between their pivot connections, the central major part of the grille will remain equally spaced from the end rails I8 and 22.

As indicated in Fig. 11, the rods I9 may enter the end rails, such as the rail I8, through a cen- Referring to that modified form as indicatedi in Fig. 5, instead of having the rails and 24 telescope with each other, a central intermediate rail portion 23 telescopes by its respective ends withthe ends of the rails 20 and 24. Then at least one of the vertical bars [6 herein shown as the central bar IB has its ends twisted to permit the full width of the bar to -be entered through the longitudinal slot formed in the underside of the rail 29' and to have that bar I6 carried on upwardly to engage by any suitable means in a fixed manner with the top wall of the rail. In the present form, a reduced neck 30 is formed onthe upper end of the bar IIi and entered in a hole provided in the top side of the rail 29 so that the intermediate rail portion 29 must move with that central grille. portion made up of the tubes I5 and vertical bars. In using this form, a simple positioning of the central grille portion is had by carrying portions of the center rail 29 downwardly in the nature of ears 3| and 32 to have a bolt 33'pass therethrough under the rail 24 and be. drawn up snugly so as to bind the rail 29 on the rail 24 andthereby prevent longitudinal movement therebetween.

Referring. now to that form of the invention as shown in Figs. 7-11,. the same construction is employed as above indicated in reference to the center grille portion and the two end extension sections of Figs, 1 to 4. In this form, however, the center major section is permanently centeredl between the end rails I8 and 22 instead of having to be manually adjusted to the center position.

In this modified form, the center bar I6 Fig. 9, is made to be wider than the other bars I6 in orderto provide a vertical slot 34 between the tubes I5 and an outer edge of the bar. A slide 35 made up in any suitable manner is provided with means to engage the bar I6 in asliding manner through the slot 34 so that the travel of the slide 35 is confined =to verticalmovement.

the rivet 38, and extend therefrom one to each side thereof outwardly and slightly upwardly to be rockably attached by their outer ends to th respective vertical rails I8'an'd 22.

wardly to the solid line positions, these connectin'gbars'36 and 31 will approach a straight line A pair of connecting bars 36 and 31 are pivotally connected to the slide 35 by any suitable means, such as tral vertical slot, the slotted portion being notched out to fit around the rod I9 in each instance and then the rod secured to the rail I8 by any suitable means, such as welding or brazmg. 1

While I have herein shown my invention in the best form as now known to me, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and 'I, therefore, do not desire to be limited tothat precise forrnbeyond the limitations as may be imposed by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In anadjustable grille, a central rigid grille comprising flat spaced vertical members notched on their ends to form'heads, and tubular spaced horizontal membersintersecting the vertical members and fixed in relation to each other at their intersections, a'pair of end sections each comprising an end'vertical rail and a plurality of spaced horizontal members fixed to their respective rails, and telescoping each with one of said tubular spaced horizontal members of the central grille, top'and bottom horizontal tubular rails crossing said central grille and attached to said respective end vertical rails, said horizontal tubular rails telescoping in top and bottom pairs,

said tubular rails being slotted longitudinally on their inner sides and the heads of said central grille vertical members slidingly engaged within the horizontal tubular rails through their slots.

2. In an adjustable grille, a central rigid grille comprising flat spaced vertical'members notched on their ends to form heads, and tubular spaced horizontal members intersecting the vertical members and fixed in relation to each other at their intersections, a pair of end sections each comprising an end vertical rail and a plurality of spaced horizontal members fixed to their respective rails, and telescoping each with one ofisaid' tubular spaced horizontal members of the central grille, top and bottom horizontal tubular rails crossing said central grille and attached to said respective end vertical rails, said horizontal tubular rails telescoping topand bottom pairs,"

said tubular rails-being slotted longitudinally on their inner sides and grille vertical members slidingly engaged within the horizontal tubular JOHN F. FARMERL the'hea'ds of said central H rails through their slots, and means to lockthe central grille against move- 

